Strawberries and Snails

jamieboy

I have quite a lot of ripe strawberries that are ready for picking but most of them have holes in with what look like baby snails or slugs, is there anything I can do to deter them.

Thanks

wallbash

Start by lifting them off the floor ....... my trouble is the birds , have netted the fruit but its a pain.

tanith

Are you using some clean straw to keep the ripening strawberries off the soil? Thats what is recommended and seems to work

jamieboy

Thanks for the replies, I put bark down last year, obviously that didn't work so I will give straw a try, thanks again.

saraann21

i am having same problem,they look like baby slugs and the bark is not stopping them.but i am doing really well and getting half a pound of strawberries off one plant everyday,i have been giving them 1 tablespoon of milk everyday and the plants are now huge,well worth doing so i thought i'd share the tip!

cootambear

tanith wrote: »

Are you using some clean straw to keep the ripening strawberries off the soil? Thats what is recommended and seems to work

clean straw is more about avoiding contact with the soil

buy some slug pellets

the little b,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, have increased their population threefold due to the weather

wallbash

i have been giving them 1 tablespoon of milk everyday

I have double cream with my strawberries .

pawlala

I'd rather have single cream and double strawberries.

tanith

cootambear wrote: »

clean straw is more about avoiding contact with the soil

buy some slug pellets

the little b,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, have increased their population threefold due to the weather

The straw helps keep moisture in the soil, suppresses weeds and slugs and snails don't like it as its scratchy and spiky:D

SailorSam

cootambear wrote: »

buy some slug pellets

Be careful which slug pellets you buy, you could be killing the birds as well.

wallbash

If its the same birds that are eating my strawberries and fouling my patio , will be buying a large bag of pellets and hoping for a result!